Vapobizeb



F. J. CURRAN June 28, 1932.

VAPORIZER Filed Sept. 6. 1930 which is formed by impregnating a Patented28, 1932 PATENT OFFICE FRANCIS J'. CURRAN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOISVAIPCRIZEB Application aleaseptember e, 1930. serial No. 480,035.

This invention relates to a vaporizer and more particularly to such adevice'having special utility in the treatment of colds and otherinfections of the nose and throat. It isjalso 5 well adapted to functionas a disinfecting or deodorizing device.

In my copending application Serial No. 307,342, filed September 20,1928, there is disclosed a disinfecting and deodorizin device lock oflight, porous, fibrous material, such as, balsa wood, with a volatiledeodorizing or disinecting agent. Usually, a gum or resin is combinedwith the volatile substance to retard the rate at which the volatilesubstance is emitted from the block. I have now discovered that I canform a vaporizer adapted to be used as a disinfecting or deodorizingdevice, or in the treatment of colds, by imat pregnating a block offibrous material as disclosed in my above identified application, with avolatile substance having disinfecting, deodorizing, or medicinalproperties, the librous material being formed so as to be readilycombined with a heater to vaporize and drive the volatile substancesfrom the fibrous block. The vaporizer should, of course, be readilyavailable for use and in order to provide for this, the fibrous block ofa0 the vaporizer is made in the form of a cup so as to fit over anelectric light bulb which supplies heat for vaporizingthevolatilesubstances in the block.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a vaporizer inthe form of an impregnated fibrous block combined with a heatingelement.

It is a further object of this invention to w provide a vaporizer fortreating colds by a become apparent from the following description andappended claims.

' Reference is now made to the accompanying drawing showing a preferredform of my invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an imin Fi proved vaporizer of thisinvention, showing one form of the brous block emplo ed.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view o the imprgnated fibrous block of Figure1.

igure 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the fibrous block and lampbulb of Figure 1, the block being shown in section.

Figure 41s a front elevation of a vaporizer of this invention employinga modified form of fibrous impregnated block, the block being shown insection.

In Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, which disclose one form of my invention,the vaporizer indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, iscomposed of a cup-shaped, porous wooden block 2, of balsa wood or thelike which ts over and is supported upon a conventional electric lamp 3.The porous block 2 is impregnated with a mixture of a gum or resin and avolatile substance having medicinal properties, such as those employedin curing colds as, for instance, substances containing thymol, menthol,eucalyptus, or the like. It is to be understood, however, that thevaporizer may also be used as a disinfecting or deodorizing devlice, inwhich event, the block 2 would be impregnated with a volatiledisinfecting or deodorizing agent; also that other heaters may beemployed in place of the electric lamp shown, and the block shaped toconform to the contour of the heater.

The block illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, inelusive, while it willfunction effectively in the vaporizer, is inclined to become charred,especially if a lamp of high Wattage is combined with the block.Furthermore, it sometimes happens that the volatile substances aredriven from the block at too rapid a rate with the result that the blockbecomes ineffective for use after a relatively short period of time. Thegums incorporated in the block with the volatile substances while theytend to retard the rate at which the volatile substances leave the blockdo not always accomplish this purpose in a satisfactory manner. Forthese reasons, I prefer to construct the vaporizer with a porous blockas illustrated re 4. This block, indicated by the reference numeral 5,is impregnated with a gum and a volatile substance as defined above, andshaped to conform to a cup, so as to t over and be supported by thelight bulb 8 of an electric lamp. In order to prevent charring of theblock, the interior of the same is provided with a covering 6 of a heatresisting medium, such as, asbestos, or the like, adapted to Contact thesurface of the light bulb. The top of the block 5 has a recess 7,forming a receptacle in which an amount of the volatile substance usedfor impregnating` the block may be placed. By such an arrangement, theblock is continually supplied with the volatile substance desired, andits eective life substantially increased thereby. If it is desired, anamount of the volatile substances may be placed in an open container andthe same set in the recess of the block 5. In that event, it would beunnecessary to supply recess 7 with the volatile substance.

When the vaporizer is to be used, the fibrous block is placed upon thebulb of a readily accessible electric lamp, and the current turned on.The volatile substance will thereupon be' driven from the block in theform of a vapor. It will thus be a preciated that my device affords avery simp e way for eilicaciously treating infectious conditions of thenose and throat, or for other purposes.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a Wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purposelimiting the patent ranted hereon otherwise than necessitated y theprior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vaporizer forl use in treating colds comprising a block of balsawood impregnated with a gum and a volatile substance having medicinalproperties, and means for driving said substance from the block in theform of a vapor. v

2. A vaporizer for use in treating colds comprising a porous, hollowcup-shaped block of balsa wood impregnated with a volatile substancehaving medicinal properties, and a heater in said block for vaporizingsaid volatile substance.

3. A vaporizer for use in treating colds comprising a porous, hollowcup-shaped block of balsa Wood impregnated with a volatile substancehaving medicinal properties, and an electric light bulb positioned inand supporting the block and adapted, when energized, to drive thevolatile substance from the block in the form of a vapor.

4. A vaporizer for use in treating colds comprising a porous, light,cup-shaped wooden block, impregnated with a gum and a volatile substancehaving medicinal properties, a coating of a heat resisting medium on theinterior of the block, and a heater in the block for driving thevolatile substance from the block.

5. A vaporizer comprising a porous, cupshaped block of balsa wood,impregnated with a gum and a volatile substance having medicinalproperties, a coating of asbestos on the interior of the block, anelectric light bulb positioned in and supporting the block and adapted,when energized, to drive the volatile substance from the block, theblock having a recess in the top thereof for containing a supply of thevolatile substance.

6. A vaporizerA for use in disinfecting deodorizing and the like,comprising a block of wood impregnated with a Volatile material, saidblock being adapted to fit over an electric light bulb and having acoating of an insulating material over the surface which comes incontact with said bulb.

7. A vaporizer comprising a hollow hemispherical piece of woodimpregnated with a volatile material and having an insulating materialon its inner surface, whereby the volatile material may be Vaporized byplacli)nglr)said block of wood on an electric light 8. A vaporizer comrising a cup shaped block of wood treate with a volatile material, andlined on the inside with an insulating material, said block adapted tobe placed on an electric light bulb to vvaporize said volatile material.9. A vaporizer comprising a cup shaped block of balsa wood impregnatedwith Volatile material, and coated on its inner surface with aninsulating material, and adapted to be placed over an electric lightbulb whereby said volatile material will be vaporized.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, CookCounty,

Illinois.

FRANCIS J. CURRAN.

